[linux-dvb] Need advice for HVR-1800

[Andrey Falko]

Hi,

I suspect that my HVR-1800 has a hardware defect where, it can't get
signals via ATSC or NTSC. Before I send it back, I'd like to know if
I'm doing something wrong or if I'm missing something. I've never had
or played with a tuner card.

First, I get my kernel to support the card by compiling the cx23885
module. After modprobing cx23885, I get /dev/dvb/adapter0/ folder as
well as a /dev/v4l folder containing video0 and video1.

The next thing I did was try dvbscan
/usr/share/dvb/atsc/us-CA-SF-Bay-Area . I am located in the Bay Area.
I tried some other files in that directory, but none of them was able
to tune to a frequency.

Next, I tried running w_scan -a 0, this gave me the following output:

w_scan version 20060902
-_-_-_-_ Getting frontend capabilities-_-_-_-_
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
ERROR: Sorry - i couldn't get any working frequency/transponder
 Nothing to scan!!
dumping lists (0 services)
Done.

I then tried dtvsignal from pcHDTV, it gave me this output:

# ./dtvsignal -dvb 0
using '/dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0' and '/dev/dvb/adapter0/demux0'
tuning to 57000000 Hz
video pid 0x0021, audio pid 0x0024
dtvsignal ver 1.0.7 - by Jack Kelliher (c) 2002-2007
channel = 2 freq = 57000000Hz
 30db       0%         25%         50%         75%        100%
Signal:     |     .     :     .     |     ._____:_____._____|
Signal: 000 .

The HVR-1800 had two ports, an ATSC and TV Cable. I tried both w_scan
and dtvsignal over both ports. I also tried to different cables with
each.

If I tell mplayer to use analog tv, I get a green screen. VLC gives me
static. Without channels.conf mplayer should not play dtv. VLC
reported that it could not tune.

Unfortunately for debugging purposes I don't have either a Windows OS
nor a TV that I can hook up.

Should I buy an antenna? Return this card? Or is there something else
I can try or something that I am missing?

Thank you in advance for any help.

-Andrey